Behind Clean Lines is your go-to medium for insights into hygienic manufacturing, innovation, and design. You'll find expert knowledge on the design process, th...
15: Biofilm – The Stubborn Threat to Food Safety Explained
What comes to mind when you hear “contamination” in food factories?For most people, it’s microbes. But there’s a bigger, tougher problem most don’t see: biofilms. These stubborn bacterial colonies are hard to remove and can lead to serious food safety issues.In this episode of ‘Behind Clean Lines’, we talk with Debra Smith, a global hygiene specialist and microbiologist at Vikan. She breaks down what biofilms are, how they form, and why they’re such a challenge to food safety.From a devastating listeria outbreak to critical cleaning practices, Deb shares real-world examples and practical advice to help protect your operations.We’ll look at the essentials—like equipment design and cleaning processes—and how they play a essential role in fighting biofilms. You’ll also learn how to build a stronger food safety culture within your team.Episode Content00:08 Introduction to biofilm and its importance 01:07 What is biofilm and how does it form? 02:42 Consequences of biofilm: A listeria incident 04:13 European biofilm cases: lessons learned 06:15 Key differences between microbes and biofilm 08:55 Growth conditions and timeframes for biofilm 11:10 Biofilm communication: Quorum sensing explained 12:47 Mitigating biofilm risks in food factories 14:22 Closing thoughts and future topics on biofilmProductionThis podcast is brought to you by NGI A/SThis podcast is produced by Montanus
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14: Risks from Above: Why Overhead Installations Matter in Food Manufacturing
Your mind is probably concerned with things like production efficiency, product quality and profit margins. Your thought go to contamination every now and then. Even to hygienic design. But have you ever thought about how the overhead spaces in your food facility impact hygiene? It’s surprising, but up to 15% of food contamination can stem from these often-overlooked areas!Join us in this episode of Behind Clean Lines as we speak with Steve Voelzke from Robroy Industries. Steve shares his insights on the vital link between electrical infrastructure and hygienic design in food factories. With us from Texas, he highlights how improved overhead planning can significantly reduce contamination risks.In this episode, you'll learn about:1. Why overhead installations are crucial in food factory design.2. How modern construction designs enhance hygienic standards.3. Case studies showing contamination from overhead conditions.4. Practical design strategies for safer food production environments.Episode Content00:08 Introduction to the episode and guest, Steve Voelzke 02:28 Importance of electrical infrastructure in hygienic design 04:51 Modeling electrical components: Why it's often neglected 06:01 Need for improved planning in overhead designs 08:15 Benefits of sealed equipment designs 09:20 Overview of existing standards and their gaps 12:05 Education's crucial role in construction's hygienic practices 13:45 Strategies for effective wash down of overhead systems 16:03 Aligning electrical and hygienic standards for better safetyThis podcast is brought to you by NGI A/SThis podcast is produced by Montanus
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13: 3 Challenges for OEMs Building for the Poultry Industry
As the labor market shifts, the conversation about automation's role in food production becomes more crucial.While machines are tireless, can they truly replicate the finesse of a human hand when it comes to tasks like deboning a chicken?Also, the demand for poultry is skyrocketing. With larger birds and faster processing lines, how does this affect your equipment design when you need to maximize throughput in limited spaces?And as consumers call for fresher, diverse products, how agile are your current designs to adapt to these changes? Join us as Nate Harrison from Pheonix Innovations shares insights into these challenges and the need for ongoing innovation. In this episode, you'll learn about:Navigating manual labor vs. automation in poultry processing.AI innovations enhancing equipment precision and efficiency.Tackling increased bird sizes and faster line speeds.Designing adaptable machinery for evolving consumer demands.Strategies for OEMs to stay ahead in poultry processing.Episode Content00:00 Introduction with Mikkel Svold and Nate Harrison01:10 Challenge 1: Automation vs. Manual Labor03:10 How AI could enhance poultry processing efficiency06:00 Current labor market conditions in poultry industry08:30 Challenge 2: Increased Bird Size and Line Speed11:10 OEMs need for efficiency amidst rising demand12:55 Challenge 3: Flexibility and Adaptability in OEM Design14:08 Meeting consumer demands for affordable poultry products16:25 Closing thoughts and recap of challengesThis podcast is brought to you by NGI.This podcast is produced by Montanus.
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12: Safe Food Production: How to Set Cleaners Up for Success
Are you confident that your cleaning team has what it takes to maintain the highest hygiene standards in your food production facility?In this episode of Behind Clean Lines, we explore the crucial—but often overlooked—role of cleaners in the food manufacturing industry. Why are they sometimes seen as the weakest link in the hygiene chain? And more importantly, how can we empower the cleaners to succeed?We’re excited to welcome back Dr. Thomas Buehler from Ecolab, a leader in sustainable water treatment and contamination prevention. He sheds light on the challenges cleaners face, from language barriers to inadequate training and tough night shifts. Plus, he shares how factory layouts and the right tools can enhance cleaning efficiency and boost food safety.Buehler offers practical strategies for setting clear goals, improving communication across levels, and utilizing technology like UV lights to assess cleanliness. We hope his insights will inspire you to rethink your approach to people management and help drive a culture where food safety is a shared responsibility.Tune in to discover how to build an engaged and effective cleaning team that can make a real difference.In this episode, you'll learn about:The importance of effective management in maintaining hygiene.Challenges faced by cleaners in food production environments.Key considerations for hygienic design in factory layouts.Innovative tools like UV lights for measuring cleaning outcomes.Strategies for fostering communication between cleaners and management.Best practices for setting and achieving cleaning goals.Episode Content 00:08 Introduction to Dr. Thomas Buehler00:57 Importance of cleaners in food safety02:22 Managing cleaner expectations and motivation03:21 Challenges faced by cleaning personnel04:29 Typical equipment layout pitfalls05:53 Ensuring quality with temporary cleaning staff06:13 Setting clear cleaning targets and operating procedures07:40 Measuring cleaning outcomes effectively09:05 Utilizing UV light for hygiene checks11:33 Creating a cleaner-friendly environment checklist13:50 Bridging communication gaps between management and cleaners15:47 Importance of trending reports for food safety16:51 Encouraging upward communication from cleaning staffProductionThis podcast is brought to you by NGI A/S.This podcast is produced by Montanus.
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11: 6 Design Choices for Safe Food Production with Nate Harrison
Are you sure your food processing equipment is up to par? In this episode of Behind Clean Lines, we chat with Nate Harrison from Phoenix Innovations, a poultry industry expert with over 20 years of experience. He shares key design choices that can enhance the safety and efficiency of your food production machinery.Discover the importance of high-grade stainless steel, proper slopes, and easy cleaning access to combat bacteria. Nate weighs in on essential inspection points and the potential pitfalls of hidden tubing in your equipment design. From best practices to future trends like automation and sustainable materials, this episode is packed with practical advice to elevate your food safety standards. In the episode, you’ll learn about:• The necessity of simple, durable, and reliable designs.• The importance of designing for easy access and serviceability.• Benefits of increasing inspection points.• … and much more.GuestOur guest today is Nate Harrison, founder of Phoenix InnovationsYou host is Mikkel Svold.Episode Contents00:08 Introduction to Episode and Guest Nate Harrison 01:07 Importance of Design Choices in Food Factories 02:33 Emphasizing Simple Concepts in Equipment Design 04:18 Cost Implications of Overcomplicated Designs 06:27 Significance of High-Grade Sanitary Stainless Steel 10:24 Need for Easy Access for Cleaning and Maintenance 12:49 Increased Inspection Points for Operational Efficiency 15:43 Eliminating Tubing in Equipment Framework Design 17:28 The Rise of Automation in Equipment Design 19:23 Advice for Newcomers on Outsourcing Automation SolutionsProductionThis podcast is brought to you by NGI The podcast is produced by Montanus.
Behind Clean Lines is your go-to medium for insights into hygienic manufacturing, innovation, and design. You'll find expert knowledge on the design process, the strategic drivers, and mind set it takes to push innovation in manufacturing for food and beverage industries forward.The topics we'll discuss include:Strategic Growth Drivers in Hygienic ManufacturingThe Role of Collaboration in Innovation for the Food IndustryProduct optimization with Hygienic Design... and much more.This podcast is brought to you by NGI.---This podcast is produced by Montanus.